Device for forming standard elbows in electric conduits or other pipes.



No. 784,471. PATENTED MAR. v, 1905. L. H. CHURCH.

DEVICE FOR FORMING STANDARD ELBOWS IN ELECTRIC OONDUI'PS OR OTHER PIPES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14, 1903.

NITED STATES Patented March '7, 1905.

PATENT 'FFFICE.

LEWIS H. CHURCH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

DEVICE FOR FORMING STANDARD ELBOWS iN ELECTRIC CONDUITS OR OTHER PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,471, dated March 7, 1905.

Application filed November 14, 1903. Serial No. 181,221.

To a whom/ if; 71mg concern:

Be it known that 1, LEWIS H. CHURCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State-of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Forming Standard Elbows in Electric Conduits or other Pipes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in pipe-bending devices, and particularl y to conduit-elbow formers.

Some of the objects of the invention are to provide an elbow-former of simple construction and few parts, to shape standard elbows with accuracy at any desired point inalength of pipe or conduit for electric conductors or other purposes, whether straight or provided with other elbows and without flattening or crimping the same, to provide a bending device which may be easily and speedily manipulated and will not allow the conduit or pipe to slip while being worked, and to provide a device into which the conduit or pipe maybe inserted sidewise and the location of the bend may be accurately predetermined.

\Vith these and other objects and advantages in view my invention consists in the novel and useful combination and arrangement of parts described and illustrated, and more particularly pointedoutin the claims forming a part of the following specification.

ln the drawings accompanying this specification and illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing a conduit or pipe bent therein. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. at is a side elevation.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

A is a form to be bolted to the work-bench or other stationary base, preferably in a horizontal position, by means of bolts a, passing through the bolt-holes a. This form A may be constructed of heavy cast-iron andis provided with a rounded formingcorner ('0 curved on the arc of a circle, preferably conforming to the curvature in the bends of standard elbows for electric conduits or other pipes. A groove It is constructed in the form A and extends-along the front edge thereof around the curved forming-corner 1/. and on the side of the form, where it ends and forms the stationary jaw of the clamp B a short distance from the termination of the curved forming-corner. The curvature of the groove 1/ is sufliciently large to seat various-sized conduits or pipes to be bent.

C is a swingingarm pivotally mounted at c, the center of the arc of the forming-corner (1 Said arm is formed with a sleeve which fits upon the stud-shaft 0, projecting from the underside of the form A, and at its opposite end said arm is of tubular shape and provided with a threaded socket c, into which is litted an operating-lever C of suitable length. A short integral opposing arm 0 projects from this end of the arm C and parallels the same. A bolt 0" passes through registering bolt-holes c in the end of the short arm and the side of the opposing arm, and on the same is journaled the grooved forming-wheel c", which is in a plane with the grooved form A.

'On the side of the form A where the groove (1/ terminates and serves as a jaw for the clamp are two lugs Z1 7), spaced apart and provided with bolt-holes 1/1), through which passes the bolt If. Pivotally mounted upon this bolt is a clamp B, to which is secured, by means of the screw 1), a removable jaw b", which said jaw is provided with an angular groove b opposing the curved groove in the form A. This jaw may be replaced by others with various sized and shaped grooves therein to accommodate dili'erent sizes of conduits or'pi pes. The clamp is formed with a tail l)", which is engaged by an eccentric 0 operating in a rectangular opening or slot 6 through the form A, and said eccentric-is pivotally mounted on a bolt 1)", secured in lugs b integral with the form A on each side of the saidslot or opening. Said eccentric is provided with a grasp or handle I). \Vhen this eccentric is operated, the jaw I)" is forced positively toward the opposing form A and locked and a conduit or pipe held securely in place, while the former-wheel 0 is brought into engagement with the conduit or pipe and forms the elbow or bend therein. After bending the lever C is thrown back, the eccentric withdrawn from engagement with the tail of the clamp, and the latter by its own weight automatically drops away from the conduit or pipe, and the latter may be quickly withdrawn and another conduit inserted to be bent.

A gage D is secured to the form, by means of which the position of the elbow to be formed in the conduit or pipe may be accurately fixed. It is a rod bent at right angles near one end, and the bent end (Z is inserted in a hole or socket in the form A. The gage is held in place by the flat spring (2, which is secured to a lug projecting from the form on its upper side, and the free end of said spring is bowed to engage with the gage and hold it in position for measurement. The gage may be thrown out of position by hand or by contact with the arm 0 as the lever C is brought around. This gage is provided with suitable marks or indicia at predetermined distances thereon, and said marks, m m for one size of conduit and g for another size, when registering with lengths marked off on the conduit or pipe to be bent accurately indicate the proper position of the conduit or pipe in the form to produce an elbow therein at a, given distance from either end of said conduit or pipe as shown by said marks.

Having thusfully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is-

1. In adevice for forming elbows in conduits or pipes for electrical or other purposes,'the combination with a form around which the cohduit or pipe is adapted to be bent, aswinging arm provided with a revoluble bending device, adapted to follow the curvature of the form and bend the conduit or pipe to conform thereto, a gravity-jaw pivotally connected to the side of the form and lying normally in an open position, the said jaw forming, in conjunction with the side of the form, avise-like mouth adapted to grip a conduit or pipe, laid lengthwise therein, and a device adapted to conduits or pipes sidewise, a removable jaw, and an eccentric adapted to bear against said clamp and lock the same in engagement with the conduit or pipe, the said clamp having its weight distributed so as to unlock by gravity when the eccentric is disengaged therefrom.

3. In adevice for forming elbows in conduits or pipes for electrical or other purposes, the combination with a form around which the conduit or pipe is adapted to be bent, a swingingarm provided with a revoluble bending device, adapted to follow the curvature of the form and bend the conduit or pipe to conform thereto, a clamp pivotall y secured to said form and provided with a removable jaw cooperating with a stationary jaw on the form to receive and retain conduits or pipes of various sizes, said conduits or pipes being clamped therebetween, an eccentric adapted to bear form and arranged to receive various sizes of against the pivotal clamp and lock the same in engagement with the conduit or pipe, the said clamp being weighted to unlock bygravity when the eccentric is disengaged therefrom and a gage consisting of a pivotal arm mounted on said form and adapted to maintain a position parallel to the conduit or pipe to be formed with an elbow and indicia on said gage at predetermined distances and designed to register with marks placed on the conduit or pipe and indicating the distance from either end thereof for the formation of the elbow.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS H. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

F. M. HECTON, CHAS. E. RIoRDoN. 

